Data processing on a non-volatile mass storage device

ABSTRACT

A non-volatile mass storage device is provided comprising memory circuitry accessible to a host data processing device via a communication link. The non-volatile mass storage device comprises processing circuitry for locally accessing the memory circuitry of the file system and is capable of triggering generation of a file for storage on the memory circuitry by connection of the non-volatile mass storage device to the host data processing device. The generated file comprises information dependent upon a state of the non-volatile mass storage device. A corresponding method of operating a non-volatile mass storage device is provided and a computer program is provided for obtaining the information dependent upon the state of the non-volatile mass storage device, for locally accessing the memory circuitry and for generating the file for storage on the memory circuitry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to non-volatile mass storage devices and moreparticularly to storage of and access to information on mass storagedevices.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Non-volatile mass storage devices such as Universal Serial Bus (USB)mass storage devices are widely used in the information technology fieldfor convenient storage of information. Known applications of suchnon-volatile mass storage devices include flash discs, which can be usedto store software programs that when invoked run on a host dataprocessing system. For example, many security and data synchronizationsoftware applications are invoked in this manner. USB dongles (i.e.hardware keys) are often used to interact with some host program runningon a host data processing machine.

To sign up for a service associated with a hardware or software productor to register a tool associated with a hardware product, a usertypically is required to manually enter via a Website either a productserial number or activation code that the user reads from some kind oflabelling providing on the hardware device itself. It is also known touse USB dongles to authenticate a piece of software and to selectivelyactivate some aspect of that software via some form of negotiation withthe host data processing device into which the USB dongle is installed.One example of such known systems is a micro controller unit board andthe associated licence to the on-line/off-line tools for it.

In the case of registration of product serial numbers, in known systemseach serial number has to be tracked together with the product andaligned with the manufacturing/supply channel. In the case of softwareauthentication provided by means of a USB dongle, software is requiredto be running on the host data processing machine in order to performthe negotiation for the authentication.

These previously known mechanisms for registration of hardware,authentication of software or indeed registration for a service or toolassociated with a hardware, software or firmware product are inflexibleand impractical in terms of the requirement to provide correspondingsoftware on the host data processing device and the requirement to trackserial numbers through the manufacturing chain until the point when auser activates the particular serial number. These aspects give rise todifficulties in manufacturing logistics for providing up to datesoftware and drivers and for tracking the serial numbers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a non-volatilemass storage device comprising:

memory circuitry accessible to a host data processing device via acommunication link;

processing circuitry for locally accessing said memory circuitry as afile system and for generating a file for storage on said memorycircuitry;

wherein said processing circuitry is triggered to generate said file byconnection of said non-volatile mass storage device to said host dataprocessing device and said file comprises information dependent upon astate of said non-volatile mass storage device.

The present invention recognises that provision of processing circuitryon the non-volatile mass storage device itself to enable the memorycircuitry of the non-volatile mass storage device to be locally accessedas a file system provides the flexibility to enable dynamic generationof a file for storage on the memory circuitry dependent upon a state ofthe non-volatile mass storage device. In previously known systems,memory circuitry of non-volatile mass storage devices such as UniversalSerial Bus dongles would typically have to be accessed via the host tofile system corresponding to the host data processing device to whichthe non-volatile mass storage device is connected. The capability tolocally access the memory circuit of the non-volatile mass storagedevice provides a great deal of flexibility since the file whosegeneration is triggered by connection of the non-volatile mass storagedevice to the host data processing device can store state informationsuch as, for example, a serial number corresponding to the non-volatilemass storage device or software, firmware or hardware version numberscorresponding to the non-volatile mass storage device. This automaticlocal generation of the file triggered by connection reduces the burdenon the host data processing device to provide supporting software forinteraction with the non-volatile mass storage device and obviates theneed for a user to actively establish state information such as a serialnumber or version number since such state information can be stored onthe non-volatile mass storage device and automatically read and storedin the file that is dynamically generated by the processing circuitry.

It will be appreciated that the file that is generated by the processingcircuitry of the non-volatile mass storage device could be any type offile. However, in some embodiments the file is a file comprisinginformation stored in a markup language. This enables the informationstored in the generated file to be codified in a predetermined manner tosimplify processing of that information by the host data processingdevice. An example of a markup language that can be used in variousembodiments is Hypertext Markup Language.

It will be appreciated that the file that is generated locally by thememory processing circuitry of the non-volatile mass storage devicecould be used in many different ways, for example, it could simply beread by the host file system of the host data processing device in orderto facilitate a hardware or software registration process. However, inone embodiment, the file comprises information for establishing acommunication link between the host data processing device and a node ofa network computer system. Establishing such a communication link viathe locally generated file reduces the requirement to provide compatiblesoftware and/or drivers on the host data processing system sinceadditional information can be collected via the communication link withthe node of the network computer system and can also be readilycentrally updated.

In one embodiment, the file locally generated by a processing circuitryof the non-volatile mass storage device is a Hypertext Markup Language(HTML) file and the communication link via which the memory circuitry isaccessible to the host data processing device is a link to a World WideWeb page. This provides flexibility since dynamic generation of the filecontaining a link to a World Wide Web page provides accessibility toresources on the Internet for the purposes of a registration orauthentication process and provides simplicity for the user who canreadily activate a Hypertext link simply by clicking on the displayedlink. Alternatively the user can automatically be directed via theHyperlink text to an appropriate web page for provision of software,hardware or firmware registration or support.

It will be appreciated that access to the non-volatile mass storagedevice by the host data processing device could be provided prior to thelocal generation of the file comprising information dependent upon astate of the non-volatile mass storage device. However, in oneembodiment the non-volatile mass storage device enables non-local accessto memory circuitry by the host data processing device after the filehas been generated by the processing circuitry. In some embodimentsnon-local access to the memory of the non-volatile mass storage devicecan also be provided prior to generation of the file and a “virtualdisconnect” can be performed before the file is generated. In anotherembodiment non-local access to the memory circuitry by the host dataprocessing device is enabled only after generation of the file by theprocessing circuitry and not before the file generation. However, inboth of these cases local generation of the file is triggered byconnection of the non-volatile mass storage device to the host dataprocessing device. This provides a simple implementation.

The state information stored in the locally generated file on thenon-volatile mass storage device could comprise any kind of informationdependent upon a state of the non-volatile mass storage device. Forexample, information from a timer, configuration information etc.However, in one embodiment, the state information comprises a serialnumber identifying the non-volatile mass storage device. This simplifiesmanufacturing logistics since it obviates the need to track serialnumbers or other codes until the point when someone activates that code.Instead, the serial number can be stored on the non-volatile massstorage device and transmitted directly to an authorisation site withoutrequirement of having to align additional authorisation or product codesin the supply chain to ensure their authenticity. The serial number neednot be human-readable.

It will be appreciated that the serial number corresponding to the stateinformation that is stored in the local generated file could be storedin any location on the non-volatile mass storage device, for example, inthe memory circuitry such as the flash memory of the non-volatile flashstorage device. However in some embodiments the serial number is storedon the non-volatile mass storage device in a location other than on thememory circuitry. For example, the serial number could be stored in thelocal file system itself or in a processing chip on the non-volatilemass storage device. This can provide an additional level of security bystoring the serial number in a location that is not accessible to anyhost device via the host file system.

It will be appreciated that in embodiments where the locally generatedfile comprises information for establishing a communication link betweenthe host data processing device and a node of a network computer system,the node of the network computer system could provide any one of a widerange of different facilities, for example, a hardware or softwaresupport facility or a facility for providing new or upgraded software.However, in one embodiment, the node of the network computer system towhich the local generated file establishes a communication link providesa serial number registration facility. This provides a convenient andflexible means by which to effect hardware registration that mightotherwise require a manual user sign up based on a human readableproduct serial number associated with the device.

It will be appreciated that the state upon which the information storedin the locally generated file of the non-volatile mass storage devicedepends could be any one of a number of different types of stateinformation associated with the non-volatile mass storage device.However, in one embodiment, the state comprises informationcorresponding to at least one of a hardware property, a softwareproperty, or a firmware property of the non-volatile mass storagedevice. This enables information with regard to configuration propertiesof the non-volatile mass storage device to be readily accessed andevaluated by a user without any requirement to have supporting analysissoftware installed on the host data processing device. This facilitiesupdates to the configuration of the non-volatile mass storage device.

In one such embodiment where the state information comprises informationcorresponding to at least one of a hardware property, a softwareproperty, or a firmware property of the non-volatile mass storagedevice, at least one of the hardware property, the software property andthe firmware property is a version number.

In one such embodiment where the state information corresponds to aversion number for hardware, software or firmware, the locally generatedfile comprises information for establishing a communication link betweenthe host data processing device and a node of network computer systemfor providing at least one of software update information and firmwareupdate information for the non-volatile mass storage device. Thisprovides an efficient mechanism via which to upgrade the non-volatilemass storage device that is convenient for the user since the user, andless susceptible to error, is not required to establish any versionnumbers but these are simply generated by the non-volatile mass storagedevice itself and stored locally in the generated file for analysis bythe appropriate computer network node.

It will be appreciated that the state information stored on thenon-volatile mass storage device in the locally generated file could bein an unencoded format. However, in one embodiment the processingcircuitry is arranged to encode the state information and to store theencoded information to the locally generated file. The encoding can beperformed by any type of encoding for example private key or public keyencryption. This allows serial numbers to be validated without any priorknowledge of the individual serial numbers and discouragescounterfeiters from generating duplicate or imitation serial numbers.This in turn reduces the burden in administrating the serial numberregistration process by avoiding the requirement to centrally store adatabase of valid serial numbers and avoiding the need to track thoseserial numbers throughout the manufacturing process.

It will be appreciated that the state information could be encoded inany one of a number of different ways, but in one embodiment the encodedstate information comprises a combination of the state information asecret key generated using a hash function. This provides a level ofsecurity that is straightforward to implement since the secret key canbe stored on the non-volatile mass storage device and made known to, forexample, the registration server. Combination of the state informationand a secret key reduces the likelihood that the state information canbe extracted by a third party other than the desired party, since toextract the state information from the combination would require aknowledge of the secret key.

In one embodiment the locally generated file comprises information forestablishing a communication link between the host data processingdevice and a node of a network computer system and a copy of the secretkey is stored locally at the network node enabling decoding of theencoded state information. This provides a simple yet effectiveprotection of potentially sensitive state information.

In one such embodiment, the state information comprises a serial numberidentifying the non-volatile mass storage device and the locallygenerated file comprises both the encoded information and a non-encodedversion of the serial number. This means that the serial number in itsnon-encoded form is quickly accessible to a host data processing deviceor registration server yet the validity and authenticity of the serialnumber can be checked by decrypting the encoded information in order toverify the authenticity of the serial number. This increases thelikelihood of detection of imitation serial numbers.

In one embodiment in which the file comprises a markup language, themarkup language is HTML and the file comprises a Hyperlink to a WorldWide Web application. This conveniently provides access to the user ofthe non-volatile mass storage device to a relevant website by simplyclicking on the Hyperlink. In another embodiment, the HTML filecorresponding to the locally generated file provides automaticforwarding to a World Wide Web location. This provides a different meansof automatically linking a user to a relevant internet site.

It will be appreciated that the communication link via which the memorycircuitry of the non-volatile mass storage device is accessed could takeon different forms. However, in one embodiment, the communication linkis a universal serial bus. Use of a USB communication link has theadvantage that all major operating systems likely to be installed onhost data processing devices are likely to natively recognise a USB massstorage device which obviates the need for any installation process andsimplifies implementation.

In alternative embodiments the communication link via which the memorycircuitry of the non-volatile mass storage device is accessed is awireless communication link, for example, a Bluetooth link.

It will be appreciated that the file that is dynamically generated onthe non-volatile mass storage device could be generated at theinstigation of the user upon initiation of communication between thenon-volatile mass storage device and a host device. In one embodiment,the processing circuitry is arranged to generate the file automaticallyupon connection of the non-volatile mass storage device to the host dataprocessing device. This provides the manufacturer with a way of ensuringthat registration of the device is reliably performed without relying onthe user's motivation to perform the registration. It also enablesresources to be accessed in a manner that is entirely convenient for theuser, since the user is automatically directed to the relevant resourcesvia automatic generation of the file.

It will be appreciated that the non-volatile mass storage device couldbe any kind of non-volatile mass storage device, such as a USB dongle.However, in one embodiment the non-volatile mass storage device is amicrocontroller chip.

Viewed from another aspect the present invention provides a method ofoperating a non-volatile mass storage device having processing circuitryand memory circuitry accessible to a host data processing device via acommunication link, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining information dependent upon a state of said non-volatile massstorage device; and

locally accessing said memory circuitry as a file system using saidprocessing circuitry and generating a file for storage on said memorycircuitry;

wherein generation of said file is triggered by connection of saidnon-volatile mass storage device to said host data processing device andsaid file comprises said state information.

Viewed from a further aspect the present invention provides a computerprogram stored on a computer readable medium for execution on anon-volatile mass storage device having processing circuitry and memorycircuitry accessible to a host data processing device via acommunication link, which when executed performs the steps of:

obtaining information dependent upon a state of said non-volatile massstorage device; and

locally accessing said memory circuitry as a file system using saidprocessing circuitry and generating a file for storage on said memorycircuitry;

wherein generation of said file is triggered by connection of saidnon-volatile mass storage device to said host data processing device andsaid file comprises said state information.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrativeembodiments which is to be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a non-volatile mass storage devicehaving processing circuitry for locally accessing memory circuitry ofthe non-volatile mass storage device as a file system and a host dataprocessing device with which the non-volatile mass storage device canestablish a communication link;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a Uniform ResourceLocator (URL) stored in the file generated by the non-volatile massstorage device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a sequence ofsteps that are performed when the non-volatile mass storage device ofFIG. 1 is plugged into the host data processing device of FIG. 1 via aUSB link;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a processperformed by a host data processing device to effect registration of thenon-volatile mass storage device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a sequence ofsteps performed by the non-volatile mass storage device of FIG. 1 forthe purpose of performing a firmware version check; and

FIG. 5B is a flow chart that is complementary to the flow chart of FIG.5A and illustrates a sequence of steps performed by a user making use ofthe file that was generated by the non-volatile mass storage device toeffect a firmware check on the non-volatile mass storage device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a non-volatile mass storage devicehaving processing circuitry for locally accessing memory circuitry ofthe non-volatile mass storage device and for generating a file forstorage on the memory circuitry. FIG. 1 also shows a communication linkbetween the non-volatile mass storage device 110 and a host dataprocessing device 150.

The non-volatile mass storage device 110 comprises: memory circuitrycomprising flash memory 112; a USB block transfer unit 114; processingcircuitry 116; a local file system 118; a local block transfer unit 120;a serial number storage location 122 and a secret key storage location124.

The host data processing device 150 is shown to comprise a host filesystem 152. The host data processing device 150 comprises furthercomponents which have not been illustrated for simplicity since they arenot directly relevant to the functioning of the non-volatile massstorage device 110.

The non-volatile mass storage device can establish a connection with ahost data processing device 150 via a communication link 149. In thisembodiment, communication link is a USB communication link. Inalternative embodiments the communication link 149 could be, forexample, a wireless communication link such as a Bluetooth communicationlink. Upon establishment of the communication link with the host dataprocessing device 150, the host file system 152 has access to the flashmemory 112 of the non-volatile mass storage device 110 via the USB blocktransfer unit 114. The operating system (not shown) on the host dataprocessing device 150 is provided with native support for communicatingwith USB mass storage devices. The USB protocol allows a plurality ofperipherals to be connected to a host device using a single standardisedinterface socket and improves the plug-and-play capabilities by allowingdevices to be connected and disconnected without a requirement to rebootthe host data processing device. The USB communication link 149 and USBblock transfer unit 114 enable the host file system 152 of the host dataprocessing device 150 to read data from the flash memory 112 and writedata to the flash memory 112. This means of access to the flash memory112 of the non-volatile mass storage device 110 is entirelyconventional.

The non-volatile mass storage device of FIG. 1 comprises processingcircuitry 116 that enables local access to the flash memory 112 as alocal file system 118 via the local block transfer unit 120. Thus thelocal file system 118 has access to information stored on the flashmemory 112 independently of the host file system 152. In order to haveaccess to the flash memory 112, the non-volatile mass storage device isprovided with an appropriate software stack to perform the local memoryaccesses.

Storage locations are provided on the non-volatile mass storage devicefor storage of a serial number 122 that is a unique identifier for thedevice 110 and the secret key 124 that is used to encode information infiles generated using the local file system 118. In particular, theprocessing circuitry is arranged to dynamically generate a file forstorage on the flash memory 112 via the local block transfer unit 120.The generated file stores information comprising both the serial number122 and the secret key 124.

Although in the embodiment of FIG. 1, special storage locations 122, 124are shown for the serial number and the secret key, in alternativeembodiments this information could be stored within the local filesystem 118 itself, in the flash memory 112 or indeed in any otherappropriate location on the non-volatile mass storage device 110. Theserial number and the secret key stored in the storage locations 122,124 are stored on the non-volatile mass storage device at themanufacture stage. Provision of the secret key 124 means that any uniqueserial number 122 can be stored on a non-volatile mass storage deviceand the authentication can be performed later. Thus there is norequirement to keep track through the manufacturing process of theprecise value of the unique serial number 122.

In this particular arrangement, upon establishment of the USBcommunication link 149, the processing circuitry 116 is arranged toautomatically generate a file for storage on the flash memory 112 usingthe local file system 118. The generated file comprises HTML data and inparticular a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) specifying an activation webaddress for a registration server accessible via the Internet forperforming registration of the serial number stored in the storagelocation 122. Generation of the file is triggered automatically byconnection of the non-volatile mass storage device 110 to the host dataprocessing device 150. Although generation of the file is triggered bythe connection, the file generation need not be performed initially uponconnection. In some embodiments generation of the file is deferred untilafter at least on other processing task has been performed.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the form of the URL whose generation istriggered dynamically by the on-board processing circuitry 116 of thenon-volatile mass storage device of FIG. 1 by connection to the hostdata processing device 150. The dynamically generated file is stored inthe flash memory 112 as a generated file upon establishment of theconnection to the host data processing device 150. The URL comprises: anactivation web address 212 providing a link to a particular selectedregistration server; an unencoded 32-character serial number 214corresponding to the serial number stored in the storage location 212 inFIG. 1; and a 32-character encoded value 216 comprising a hash of thecombination of the secret key read from the storage location 124 in FIG.1 and the serial number. The encoding in this embodiment is simplyperformed using a hash function, which is an algorithm that generates anumeric or fixed-size character output from a variable-sized piece oftext or other data (in this case at least partly numeric).

The activation web address 212 is stored on the non-volatile massstorage device 110 at some point during the manufacturing process or atsome point during the configuration of the non-volatile mass storagedevice. In this particular embodiment, the activation web address ispredetermined and provides a link to a predetermined registrationserver. However, in alternative embodiments the activation web addresscould change dependent on the internal state of the non-volatile massstorage device 110. Inclusion of the unencoded (i.e. non-hashed) serialnumber 214 in the URL enables the serial number to be readily extractedby the registration server whilst inclusion of the encoded (hashed)combination of the secret key and the serial number facilitiesverification that the serial number as a valid serial number that waslegitimately generated. In alternative embodiments the serial numbercould be encrypted and an encrypted version could be included in theURL.

The 32-character unencoded serial number 214 and the 32-characterencoded combination 216 of the secret key and serial number areconcatenated and the entire concatenated value is transmitted to theregistration server that is specified by the activation web address 212.The activation web address 212 in this arrangement corresponds to aregistration server (one example of an authorisation entity) but inalternative embodiments, the activation web address could provide anyfunction desired depending upon the particular state information that isto be transmitted. For example, if the state information to betransmitted is a software, hardware or firmware version number ratherthan the serial number 214, the activation web address could correspondto the address of a server for software/hardware/firmware verification(i.e an upgrading entity).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a sequence ofsteps that are performed by a computer program stored on the flashmemory 112 of the non-volatile mass storage device to effect dynamicgeneration of the file by the processing circuitry 116 of FIG. 1. Theprocess begins at stage 310 where the non-volatile mass storage device110 is plugged into a USB port of the host data processing device 150.Upon connection to the host data processing device 150, the processingcircuitry 116 of the non-volatile mass storage device 110 automaticallyreads the unique serial number stored in the serial number storagelocation 122 and also reads the secret key from the secret key storagelocation 124 on the non-volatile mass storage device 110. The processthen proceeds to stage 330 whereupon the processing circuitry 116 formsthe hyperlink of FIG. 2 comprising both the non-encoded serial numberand the encoded authentication information comprising both the serialnumber and the secret key. Next, at stage 340, the processing circuitry116 writes the hyperlink to a locally generated file using the localfile system 118 and stores the file on the flash memory 112. The stages320, 330 and 340 are executed by the processing circuitry 116 usingcomputer program code stored on the flash memory 112. Thus theprocessing circuitry 116 is triggered to generate the file by connectionof the non-volatile mass storage device 110 to the host data processingdevice 150. In this embodiment the file generation is triggered in aninitial processing stage upon connection non-local access to the memorycircuitry by the host data processing device is enabled only aftergeneration of the file. However, in alternative embodiments non-localaccess to the memory of the non-volatile mass storage device can also beprovided prior to generation of the file and a “virtual disconnect” canbe performed before the file is generated. However, in both of thesecases (file generation prior to non-local access and file generationfollowing a virtual disconnect) local generation of the file istriggered by connection of the non-volatile mass storage device to thehost data processing device.

Once the file has been generated at stage 340, the process proceeds tostage 350 whereupon the non-volatile mass storage device 110 isenumerated as a USB mass storage device using the standard USB protocol.Stage 350 is the stage that would typically initially be performed whena known USB mass storage device is plugged into a host data processingsystem. However the steps 320, 330 and 340 are performed prior to theinitiation step 350 and are facilitated by provision of the processingcircuitry 116 on the non-volatile mass storage device 110. Finally atstage 360, the non-volatile mass storage device 110 is recognised by thehost data processing device 150 as a mass storage device and the hostdata processing device 150 has access to the generated file storing theHyperlink via the USB block transfer unit 114 and the host file system152.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a sequence ofsteps performed by a registration server specified by the activation webaddress 210 of FIG. 2 when performing registration of the non-volatilemass storage device 110 of FIG. 1. The process begins at stage 402whereupon the user opens the HTML file that was generated followingconnection of between the host data processing device 150 and thenon-volatile mass storage device 110. This file, which is stored on theflash memory 112, is accessed by the host data processing device via thehost file system 152 and the USB block transfer unit 114 and retrievedfrom the flash memory 112 of the non-volatile mass storage device 110.

Next, at stage 404, the user either clicks the Hyperlink stored in theretrieved file or is automatically directed to the registration serverweb page via the HTML code in the generated file. The process thenproceeds to stage 406 whereupon access to the registration server isprovided via the host data processing device 150 and the registrationserver extracts the serial number 114 and the hashed (i.e. encoded)combination of the secret key and serial number 216 (see FIG. 2) fromthe URL of the stored Hyperlink. Next, at stage 408, the registrationserver takes the non-encoded serial number 214 and generates a hashedcombination of this serial number with a locally stored version of thesecret key. The process then proceeds to stage 410 where theregistration server makes a comparison between (i) hash* generated atstage 408 using the version of the secret key stored by the registrationserver and the serial number extracted from the URL with (ii) theencoded value 216 obtained directly from the URL (i.e. hashedcombination extracted directly from the URL). If there is no matchbetween these two values, it indicates that the serial number was notvalidly generated (e.g. because the generator of the serial number didnot have access to the secret key). In this event the process proceedsto stage 412 whereupon the registration server refuses registration as aresult of an invalid serial number.

If, on the other hand, at stage 410 the hash* value generated by theregistration server does in fact match the encrypted value 216 extractedfrom the URL, then the process proceeds to stage 414 where an attempt ismade to store the extracted serial number in a database corresponding tothe registration server. However, at stage 416 a check is performed bythe registration server to determine whether or not the serial number isalready present in the registration server database. If the serialnumber is already present then the process proceeds to stage 418 whereregistration is refused as a consequence of a duplicated serial number.This ensures that even if a serial number is cloned, a given serialnumber can be used only once to effect a valid registration. If, on theother hand, the serial number is not already stored in the registrationserver database, the process proceeds from stage 416 to stage 420whereupon the new user is provided with a registration form. Once theuser has registered, depending access or selective access is be providedto a range of information and services with regard to the hardware,software or firmware being registered.

FIG. 5A is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a processperformed by the non-volatile mass storage device 110 of FIG. 1 as partof a hardware or firmware verification process. The process begins atstage 502 whereupon the non-volatile mass storage device is started upvia connection to the host data processing device 150. Next at stage 504the processing circuitry 116 of the non-volatile mass storage deviceexecutes program code that enables it to look up a current hardware orfirmware version associated with a state of the non-volatile massstorage device. This information is predetermined and stored at somelocation on the non-volatile mass storage device at the manufacturingstage. This is similar to the storage of the serial number 122 shown inFIG. 1.

Next, at stage 506, the processing circuitry creates a file on thenon-volatile mass storage device 110 using the local file system 118.The generated file comprises the newly established firmware versioninformation or hardware version information determined at stage 504together with a URL specifying a World Wide Web location via whichhardware and/or firmware version checking can be performed.

FIG. 5B is a flow chart that is complementary to the flow chart of FIG.5A and which illustrates the steps performed by the user via ahardware/firmware verification website for performing the verificationprocess. The process begins at stage 550 whereupon a user clicks on aHyperlink contained in a dynamically file stored on the non-volatilemass storage device 110. Access to this Hyperlink is provided via thehost file system 152 and the USB block transfer unit 114 of FIG. 1.Next, at stage 552, the server extracts the current hardware and/orfirmware version from the URL in a similar manner to the way that theserial number 214 and the encrypted state information 216 were extractedin the example of the FIG. 2 URL. The process then proceeds to stage 554where it is determined whether or not the non-volatile mass storagedevice 110 has the latest hardware and/or firmware version. Theinformation to determine whether or not the versions are the latest onesis stored on the verification server without any requirement forsupporting the software on the host data processing device 110. If atstage 554 it is established that the latest versions of firmware and/orhardware are in fact installed on a non-volatile mass storage device,then the process proceeds to stage 556 and no further action isrequired. However, on the other hand, if at stage 554 it is determinedthat at least one of the hardware or firmware versions are not thelatest version then the process proceeds to stage 558 whereupon theverification server initiates a new hardware and/or firmware download tothe non-volatile mass storage device 110.

Although in the above embodiments we have described dynamic generationof a file by the processing circuitry 116 using the local file system ofa non-volatile mass storage device 110, the file that is generated tostore the dynamically generated URL need not be a new file but couldamount to generation of an old file which is modified to include the URLinformation and the state information. Thus the file that is generatedfor storage on the flash memory 112 of the non-volatile mass storagedevice 110 could be either an entirely new file or a modified version ofa pre-existing file.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedin detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various changes and modifications can be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A non-volatile mass storage device comprising: memory circuitryaccessible to a host data processing device via a communication link;processing circuitry for locally accessing said memory circuitry as afile system and for generating a file for storage on said memorycircuitry; wherein said processing circuitry is triggered to generatesaid file by connection of said non-volatile mass storage device to saidhost data processing device and said file comprises informationdependent upon a state of said non-volatile mass storage device.
 2. Anon-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidfile is a Hypertext Markup Language file.
 3. A non-volatile mass storagedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said file comprises informationfor establishing a communication link between said host data processingdevice and a node of a network computer system.
 4. A non-volatile massstorage device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said file is a HypertextMarkup Language file and wherein said communication link is a link to aWorld Wide Web page.
 5. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said non-volatile mass storage device enables non-localaccess to said memory circuitry by said host data processing deviceafter said file has been generated by said processing circuitry.
 6. Anon-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 5, whereinnon-local access to said memory circuitry by said host data processingdevice is enabled only after generation of said file by said processingcircuitry.
 7. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said state information comprises a serial number identifyingsaid non-volatile mass storage device.
 8. A non-volatile mass storagedevice as claimed in claim 7, wherein said serial number is stored onsaid non-volatile mass storage device in a location other than on saidmemory circuitry.
 9. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed inclaim 7, wherein said file comprises information for establishing acommunication link between said host data processing device and a nodeof a network computer system providing a serial number registrationfacility.
 10. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said state comprises information corresponds to at least one ofa hardware property, a software property or a firmware property of saidnon-volatile mass storage device.
 11. A non-volatile mass storage deviceas claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of said hardware property,said software property and said firmware property is a version number.12. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 11, whereinsaid file comprises information for establishing a communication linkbetween said host data processing device and a node of a networkcomputer system for providing at least one of software updateinformation and firmware update information for said non-volatile massstorage device.
 13. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said processing circuitry is arranged to encode saidstate information and to store encoded state information to said file.14. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 13, whereinsaid encoded state information comprises a combination of said stateinformation and a secret key generated using a hash function.
 15. Anon-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 14, wherein saidfile comprises information for establishing a communication link betweensaid host data processing device and a node of a network computer systemand wherein a copy of said secret key is stored locally at said nodeenabling decoding of said encoded state information.
 16. A non-volatilemass storage device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said stateinformation comprises a serial number identifying said non-volatile massstorage device and said file comprises both said encoded information anda non-encoded version of said serial number.
 17. A non-volatile massstorage device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said Hypertext MarkupLanguage file comprises a hyperlink to a World Wide Web location.
 18. Anon-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidHypertext Markup Language file provides automatic forwarding to a WorldWide Web location.
 19. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said communication link is a Universal Serial Bus. 20.A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidcommunication link is a wireless communication link.
 21. A non-volatilemass storage device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processingcircuitry is arranged to generate said file automatically uponconnection of said non-volatile mass storage device to said host dataprocessing device.
 22. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said non-volatile mass storage device is amicrocontroller chip.
 23. A non-volatile mass storage device as claimedin claim 1, wherein said non-volatile mass storage device is a UniversalSerial Bus mass storage device.
 24. A method of operating a non-volatilemass storage device having processing circuitry and memory circuitryaccessible to a host data processing device via a communication link,said method comprising the steps of: obtaining information dependentupon a state of said non-volatile mass storage device; and locallyaccessing said memory circuitry as a file system using said processingcircuitry and generating a file for storage on said memory circuitry;wherein generation of said file is triggered by connection of saidnon-volatile mass storage device to said host data processing device andsaid file comprises said state information.
 25. A method of serialnumber registration using a non-volatile mass storage device havingprocessing circuitry and memory circuitry accessible to a host dataprocessing device via a communication link, said method comprising thesteps of: obtaining information dependent upon a state of saidnon-volatile mass storage device; and locally accessing said memorycircuitry as a file system using said processing circuitry andgenerating a file for storage on said memory circuitry; whereingeneration of said file is triggered by connection of said non-volatilemass storage device to said host data processing device and said filecomprises said state information from which a serial number is derivablefor transmission to an authorisation entity.
 26. The method as claimedin claim 25, wherein said serial number is stored in hardware of saidnon-volatile mass storage device prior to generation of said file.
 27. Amethod of performing at least one of hardware, software and firmwareupgrading using a non-volatile mass storage device having processingcircuitry and memory circuitry accessible to a host data processingdevice via a communication link, said method comprising the steps of:obtaining information dependent upon a state of said non-volatile massstorage device; and locally accessing said memory circuitry as a filesystem using said processing circuitry and generating a file for storageon said memory circuitry; wherein said state comprises at least one of ahardware version, a software version and a firmware version of firmwarecorresponding to said non-volatile mass storage device and whereingeneration of said file is triggered by connection of said non-volatilemass storage device to said host data processing device and said filecomprises said state information for transmission to an upgradingentity.
 28. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium forexecution on a non-volatile mass storage device having processingcircuitry and memory circuitry accessible to a host data processingdevice via a communication link, which when executed performs the stepsof: obtaining information dependent upon a state of said non-volatilemass storage device; and locally accessing said memory circuitry as afile system using said processing circuitry and generating a file forstorage on said memory circuitry; wherein generation of said file istriggered by connection of said non-volatile mass storage device to saidhost data processing device and said file comprises said stateinformation.
 29. A non-volatile mass storage device comprising: meansfor storing data such that said data is accessible to a host dataprocessing device via a communication link; means for processing forlocally accessing said means for storing data as a file system and forgenerating a file for storage on said means for storing data; whereinsaid means for processing is triggered to generate said file byconnection of said non-volatile mass storage device to said host dataprocessing device and said file comprises information dependent upon astate of said non-volatile mass storage device.